Tag: shadow

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Cutie PIE

Recently, I drove to Auckland to pick up ZK-PIE.

It’s a 1997 Snark HA-3B microlight, designed by Bill Barber from Queenstown, NZ.

Unfortunately it has not been flown for nearly a decade, so it will need a thorough check-over and some maintenance before flying again.

I have long admired the Snark microlights. Bill effectively modernised the CFM Shadow. He retained its tandem seating and pusher prop configuration, but used super-strong carbon/kevlar construction, and an economical fuel-injected engine driving a much larger propeller. The roomy, streamlined fuselage is very slippery thru the air, and gives the passenger a great view.

My first view of PIE
Loading the Snark
Shopping in Papakura
VW Kombi cabins at Taupo
Waiting for Picton ferry
Back on the ‘Mainland’
Past the fruit at Cromwell
Safely ‘home’ at Manapouri

I can tell you that is a long way from Invercargill to Auckland and return, especially when you’re driving by yourself. And the strong westerly winds made towing challenging.

I’ll post more pics, as I restore this microlight.

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Testing Times

After a couple of years of flying solo, I decided that it was time to take passengers up with me.

Because the Shadow microlight has been completely re-built, RAANZ requires it be test flown at maximum all-up weight. 

 

1989 Shadow BD
1989 Shadow BD

 

Loaded up to MAUW
Loaded up to MAUW

 

Take-off @ MAUW
Take-off @ MAUW

 

Stall at 3000 rpm
Stall at 3000 rpm

 

Stall at 5000 rpm
Stall at 5000 rpm

 

Stall @ 6000rpm
Stall @ 6000rpm

 

Steep turn
Steep turn

 

50 degree banked turn
50 degree banked turn

 

Steep turn
Steep turn

 

Power descent
Power descent

 

Being a newbie to the Shadow, it was a bit nerve-wracking to do repeated stalls, steep turns and power descents. 

After each flight, I added another large steel weight (borrowed from the farm tractor) into the rear compartment.

Surprisingly, even at 6000rpm, the stall was pretty docile. The nose didn’t fall away. No sudden wing drop. Just that nose pointing ridiculously high in the sky, with the aircraft bobbling along at only 35 knots.  

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